With only a few days until UFC 313, all eyes are fixed firmly on the main event between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev. Pereira, the current light heavyweight champion, has dominated with his striking, while Ankalaev’s diverse skill set makes him a significant threat. The Dagestani contender has gone unbeaten in his last 12 fights, setting up a high-stakes clash of styles on March 8. As the fight approaches, renowned MMA coach Javier Mendez offered his prediction, describing why Ankalaev is the biggest threat ever for ‘Poatan’ before breaking down how the matchup could play out.

Javier Mendez believes the fight will be dictated by where it takes place. If ‘Poatan’ manages to keep the fight on the feet, then it would be his chance to dominate the fight. But if the Russian takes him down, Pereira can kiss his title goodbye. He said on his podcast, “Ankalaev and Pereira—that’s going to be a great fight, and it’s going to be one of those fights where if it stays standing, I favor Pereira. If Ankalaev can manage to take him down and maintain that top position, it’s going to favor Ankalaev.”

Mendez, who has coached elite wrestlers such as Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, understands the importance of a well-executed takedown approach in high-stakes fights against strikers like ‘Poatan.’

The American Kickboxing Academy coach used Pereira’s last fight against Jan Błachowicz as an example of how the champion may struggle against an opponent with great grappling. “Remember when he fought Jan Błachowicz, the champion? When he fought him standing until Jan destroyed his legs, and then he started taking him down when the damage was already done. Had he done the takedown right from the get-go, it would have been much easier for him,” Mendez said.

Despite the Brazilian’s victory over Błachowicz, Mendez believes Magomed Ankalaev‘s diverse skills make this the toughest challenge of the reigning lightweight champion’s career so far. But speaking of Jan Błachowicz, do you know that the former opponent of both these elite fighters has also dropped his prediction on the fight? So, who is the better fighter between the two in this challenge? Let’s find out!

Jan Błachowicz delivers his verdict on Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira

Former light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz, who shared the Octagon with Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev, is in a unique position to assess their upcoming title clash at UFC 313. Błachowicz, who fought Ankalaev to a split draw in 2022 and lost to Pereira in 2023, believes the Dagestani contender must adapt his approach to dethrone the defending champion. “If Ankalaev fights like the last fight with Rakic, he’s going to lose the fight,” Błachowicz stated. “He needs to do something more. He is a good fighter, but it’s not enough for Pereira in this kind of style. He needs to change.”

Despite Ankalaev’s recent success, including a win over Aleksandar Rakic, Błachowicz is skeptical of his ability to manage the Brazilians’ hard hitting ability. He said that the Russian had promised an evolved version of himself before meeting Rakic, but the fight lacked excitement. “He said the same before Rakic that we were going to see a new Ankalaev, but everybody saw that this fight was very boring. I almost go to sleep,” Błachowicz said.

The Polish veteran emphasized that Magomed Ankalaev’s cautious strategy may be insufficient to defeat a dangerous finisher like Alex Pereira, who has proven his ability to dismantle opponents with accuracy and brute strength.

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Jan Błachowicz initially viewed Magomed Ankalaev as a future champion, but his opinion has changed with time. “Three fights ago, I would have picked Ankalaev, but now Pereira,” he said, expressing his growing confidence in the Brazilian’s ability to defend his title. As UFC 313 approaches, Błachowicz’s perspective adds a new layer to the argument, suggesting that unless Ankalaev takes more chances and modifies his plan, ‘Poatan’ may walk away with another decisive victory. What do you think? Do you agree with his prediction? Let us know in the comments.